The Bake Is Back - the countdown to Great British Bake Off 2026 starts here

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Trailer for the new series just dropped - no transmission date yet though.

Anyone else excited to see how Nigella gets on as the new judge? A worthy successor to Pru and Mary, I think.

Bread week next week, isn't it? Maybe they wanted maximum family members in the tent so went for it early.

If they really wanted to add interest they should have got family members in on a 4 hour complex showstopper. They'd have been under each others feet trying to do something more complicated. There isn't anything about a cheesecake, even with the decoration, that couldn't be done by one person in the time. Though I'm not convinced Gary would have thought of or executed those swans on his own.

Of course we have to rely on the judges’ opinion of taste and to some extent texture.

However, viewers can assess the visuals and although there will be some subjectivity involved, it was obvious that Tom’s was unfinished. Paul also said it looked a mess.

If the brief had been to make some delicious biscuits Tom may have deserved to win.

But it was to make a biscuit mosaic.

I quite liked seeing some of the couples being all loved up on the show this week ❤️❤️ 🤣

I loved Clara’s handbag!!!

I definitely didn’t need to hear Gabe try and explain his Thruple….

I think it was definitely right for Shannon to go - she just had a bad week unfortunately. I couldn’t believe how blue her eyes were!!! (irrelevant, I know).

I’m gutted it’s Bread Week next week as I find that the most boring week! But, it had to come at some point I suppose.

I just didn't really get the whole episode last night. Family/friends weren't necessary and just made for more padding, less baking. And how can they judge a technical when everyone made something different? As for wearable cakes, get in the bin. Seemed a silly pointless episode to me.

I hope this isn't a change in direction because adding on the weird mix of bakers who don't actually seem that great at baking.....

I think Moyins baking is growing in confidence and that Konny , Clara and Tom are good bakers.

Shannon has amazing blue eyes.

I didn’t enjoy last nights episode at all.

Yes, she does — there’s something unusual about them, too. Is it that they’re a very pale blue, with a darker ring around the iris? They’re very striking.

I didnt even think the cheesecake task seemed all that labour-intensive. There were points where 2 people on each bench, were just waiting for it to cool down....

ridicules show stopper choice this week - there wasn't one of those cakes that I would like to eat, may as well have coated them in cement with the amount of fondant being chucked about.

Cakes are for eating not for wearing - just a load of style over substance imo

Just catching up with the thread and I echo most of it!

last night was far too gimmicky, none of them that terrible but all together in one episode was a bit much. As others have said having a relative in could have worked with a more hands on bake and maybe later on in the series when there’s less of them.

the mystery box I quite liked, I was horrified that some chose a basic lemon sponge but actually that was the most outing! Either way stupid choice.

Signature was fine, they’ve done some similar things before but by then I was done with the gimmicks!

Clara did well but poor Connie missing out again, I’m also really becoming a fan on Mo (also they were a bit mean to Moyin weren’t they!)

I agree: I think she was quite charming actually.

And she did cope.

It's posters who were being mean, and maybe the production team didn't see any reason for anyone to be negative about her. I, for one, don't. She was sweet and interesting.

Yes - and no matter how great the cake is, once it's been on someone's head I wouldn't want to eat it anyway. I know it's not touching but hair near food is really off-putting for me.

She really has substantive feedback and marries her knowledge with a real love of food. I actually wish she would do another cooking series.

Love it when she whomps it in her mouth! She's just so perfect for the job.

I wasn't keen on the camera angle that made them look like they were eating the brains out of that blonde head.

LOVE the shots of her shovelling massive bites into her mouth! Unbothered queen behaviour

This. Just love her.

Yes. How does anyone remain so dignified doing that?

ETA though one of our dc did say "Why is she so hungry?"

I did think that the technical might be more interesting from a taste point of view when they are not trying 12 versions of the same thing?

Yes, it always makes me laugh when they say the flavours are good in the technical - well they should be, they are the ones you chose!

I quite enjoyed the technical challenge, I thought that was a good idea, especially as most people can only cook basic things from memory so there is nowhere to hide.

This is so quick-witted & funny 🤣. It would’ve been lovely if Nigella could have said something similar!

I so agree. If that was the best viewers' suggestion they could come up with, I hate to think what the rest were like.

It doesn’t matter in our house but I’d be pissed if I was watching a show on baking with my young DCs and was asked to explain what a throuple was ffs. Save me from some 20 something producer thinking having ‘colourful‘ characters is going to bring in the younger viewers.

Nigella has good technical knowledge but she still seems jumpy to me. Not relaxed into the role yet. Not speaking in a relaxed tone, a bit twitchy and there is no chemistry with Paul. I get he’s probably obnoxiously full of himself but he comes with the programme.

Huge difference in the way each of them presents on camera. It’s odd because she’s done so many cooking programmes. Should be second hand for her. Hopefully she’ll get into a rhythm.

I have no interest in the baker's family, and find the videos they show of them at home tedious.

Beautifully accurate summary.
That episode was an absolute fucking farce.
Can the C4 producers responsible for that mess go and find jobs on You Tube and leave some precious mainstream programmes for viewers.
BBC so foolish to let this show go to C4.